A spokesman for the joint Danish-Norwegian operation tasked with ferrying Syrian chemical weapons said warships from Russia and China will provide additional security on the transporting operation.

Maj. Eystein Kvarving said the Russian missile cruiser Peter the Greatand a Chinese frigate won't be under Danish-Norwegian command, but will be coordinating closely with it.

Cyprus' defense ministry on Thursday identified the Chinese warship as the Yan Cheng.

Kvarving said two cargo ships and their warship escorts will set sail Friday from the Cypriot port of Limassol to waters near Syria where they will wait for orders on when they can head to the Syrian port of Latakia to pick up more than 1,000 tons of chemical agents.